Serbia’s Ada Bridge construction steams ahead

The construction work on the new Sava River Bridge over the Ada Ciganlija river island in Belgrade, Serbia has moved ahead with the erection of the last steel segment of the main span of the bridge that will connect the two sides of the river.

The last part of the bridge, also known as Ada bridge, will connect the municipalities of New Belgrade and Cukarica.The construction of the bridge will cost around €120 million ($170.8 million), with the access roads another €120 million.

Upon completion, the bridge will comprise six lanes, two metro lines and two bike and pedestrian lanes.

The bridge is considered to be one of the world’s largest single-pylon bridges, and its central tower will be 200m tall, five meters less than Avala tower, 964m long and 45m wide.

The project will also ease traffic flow through the city centre and the older Gazela Bridge.The bridge is expected to open to traffic by December 15, when construction of access roads will be completed, while the entire project, including the construction of a loop in the suburb of Cukarica, will be completed in 2013.

The European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have allocated funds for the project, while Austrian contractor PORR is delivering the construction work.